The tougher the environment, the harder the adaptation? A psychological point of view in extreme situations

• Main Authors: Nicolas, Michel, Martinent, Guillaume, Suedfeld, Peter, Palinkas, Lawrence, Bachelard, Claude, Gaudino, Marvin
• Other Authors: Laboratoire de psychologie : dynamiques relationnelles et processus identitaires Dijon (PSY-DREPI), Université de Bourgogne (UB)-Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté COMUE (UBFC), Maison des Sciences de l'Homme de Dijon (MSH Dijon (MSHD)), Université de Bourgogne (UB)-Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté COMUE (UBFC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire sur les Vulnérabilités et l'Innovation dans le Sport (EA 7428) (L-VIS), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon, University of British Columbia (UBC), University of Southern California (USC), L'Institut polaire français Paul-Emile Victor (IPEV), Ministère de l'Education nationale, de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche (M.E.N.E.S.R.), Santé
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2021
• Subjects: Adaptation; Extreme environments; Multilevel analyses; Perceived control; Psychological dimensions; [SHS.PSY]Humanities and Social Sciences/Psychology; Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03262578

IF: 2.8 (Q1) International audience Grounded within a multidimensional and multilevel approach, the aim of this study was to investigate the time course of Psychological Adaptation Process (PAP) dimensions (social, emotional, occupational, and physical) during one-year polar winter-overs in Subantarctic and Antarctic stations. The effects of perceived control (PC) at the start of polar winter on the dynamics of the PAP dimensions were also examined. The present findings clarify some changes in PAP in extreme environments: (a) The dimensions of psychological adaptation evolved differently as a function of environmental conditions; and (b) PC influenced the trajectories of PAP dimensions. These findings elucidate the importance and complexity of psychological dimensions and the significant role of PC in adaptation to an extreme environment.